Qualifications

Board Certification in Surgery

Our surgeons are board certified in general surgery, or eligible
for board certification and in the process of obtaining
certification. Board certified surgeons have met stringent
requirements as specified by the American Board of Surgery (ABS).
The steps to becoming board certified are:

Graduation from an accredited medical school

Completion of a surgical residency in an accredited program
in the United States or Canada of at least five years duration
after medical school

Application to the American Board of Surgery for
certification.

Review of the applicant's qualifications by the ABS

Passing an extensive day-long written examination

Passing a separate oral examination given by three teams of
highly-qualified surgeons to assess the candidate's ability to
handle all kinds of surgical problems

In 1976, the ABS began granting certification for a ten year
period. After ten years, a surgeon must be re-certified. The ABS
reviews the surgeon's credentials, including continuing education in
the field of surgery, professional respect by other surgeons in the
community, and the on-going practice of surgery. The surgeon is then
eligible to take a written exam, which must be passed to extend the
certification for another ten years.

Board certified surgeons have specialized skills and knowledge to
diagnose and treat a variety of surgical conditions. These skills
are outlined by the American Board of Surgery on their web site. For
information about ABS and the speciality of surgery:

Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)

Our surgeons are Fellows of the American College of Surgeons or
in the process of pursuing fellowship. After approximately two years
in practice, a surgeon may apply to become a Fellow, American
College of Surgeons. The surgeon must present a portfolio of cases,
be recommended by his peers, and be interviewed by a regional group
of Fellows. After this process, if the surgeon meets all criteria,
induction as a Fellow may result.